No roadblocks or curfew in Election Security Plan: JOC

INA-  Baghdad

The Joint Operations Command JOC announced on Thursday, that the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, approved a plan to secure local elections, indicating that the plan does not include roadblocks or imposing a curfew.

The deputy commander of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Qais Al-Muhammadawi, told the Iraqi News Agency INA that "the provincial council elections are radically different from the parliamentary elections," indicating that "according to the plan and after the approval of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, we will ensure that there are no roadblocks, whether inside Baghdad or across the provinces.

He added that "the movement of citizens will be normal, but there will be an official holiday," noting that "the plan does not include imposing a curfew in all governorates, but according to data and developments, it might be a specific case that requires a curfew in a certain area, electoral center or district.

He also confirmed that "all the orders that have reached the leaders of the Supreme Security Committee for elections and sub-committees do not include imposing a curfew, closure of airports or border ports or curfew and roadblocks between the provinces," pointing out that "the plan of this elections will give a message about security and stability of Iraq and will facilitate the movement of citizens whether to vote or for their personal interests.

"The upcoming elections are considered a national entitlement, as the date of the special vote is on December 16, while the public vote will be held on December 18," he emphasized.

He indicated that "the security sectors will be deployed significantly with a security and intelligence vision to secure all polling stations in all governorates of Iraq," hoping that "the atmosphere will be safe for citizens to cast their vote freely.

He affirmed the need to "create a safe atmosphere and prevent those who attack candidates or electoral centers and security halls in accordance with the law," explaining that "the issue of election boycott and the issue of not voting is a matter concerns the citizen.

"There is a high coordination with the High Electoral Commission," he said, pointing out that "what distinguishes this plan is the frequency of checks of the Commission's devices and cards, as all things are going in the normal direction.